Cathode-ray image-translating device



a ,1949. H. N. FRIIHART ET AL 3 CATHODE-RAY IMAGE-TRANSLATING DEVICE Filed Nov. 29, 1944 a INVENTORS HENRY NEIL FRIHA WILBUR c. JACKSO y FREDRICK B WILLIAMS 4 04% fhww ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 18, 1949 CATHODEsR'AX.IMAGETBItNSLA'HNG1 DEVICE Henry Neil Frihart, Wilbur C. Jackson, iand'Fred rick B. Williams, Chicago, Ill.,

assign'ors to 'Motorola, Inc., a corporation of Illinois App ca on Nov mb 2 1944, Serial, No, 565. 2

This invention relates to cathode-ray imagetranslating devices and, While it is of generaliapplication, it is particularly suitable for embil liment .in such devices designed as projection image-reproducing devices.

One form of projection image=reproducing de- Vice heretofore proposed comprised a conventional cathode-ray image-reproducing tube together with an annular spheroidal optical reflector positioned in front of the tube and'reflecting an image of the fluorescent screen back around the tube. Surrounding the neck of the tube is an annular-Schmidt or S-shaped lens to correct for spherical aberration of the reflector. A viewing screen is then placed behind the tube on which an image of the screen is projected. This arrangement has a number of limitations and disadvantages, among which may be mentioned the fact that it requires considerable space; the image is taken from the surface ofthe-screen opposite to that scanned and is of reduced luminosity and impaired contrast due to dispersion and absorption of light by the fluorescent 'film it- 3 Claims. (Cl. 250- 164) u ed h e and in the append d c aims, .is mean 1 amended cla m self; and the mechanical arrangement of such-a device is inconvenient for mounting in a television receiver,

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a new and improved cathode iiay image translating device by means of which one'or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages and limitations of the arrangements of the prior art may be avoided.

It is another object of the invention to provide a new and improved cathode-ray image-trans lating device of the projection image-reproducing type in which the image is derived from the scanned surface of the fluorescent screen, thereby procuring maximum luminous intensity and optimum contrast.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide anew and improved cathode-nay imagetranslating device of the type-utilizing a spheroidal reflecting surface and a correcting lens which provides the simplest mechanical arrangement and occupies the least space.

In accordance with the invention, a cathoderay image-translating device comprises an evacuated envelope, an image-forming screen at one end of the envelope, and means for developing a cathode-ray beam and scanning the screen with such beam. The device also includes an annular optical reflecting surface facing the scanned surface of the screen and effective totransmit an image to or from the scanned suri ace of the screen, By the term, fimage-forming" screen, as

ur a is forme oh'jthe n l p nd R flective o eluding sii'eimsat'ed neckf,

a screen which i effective ,to form ei hera, visualv ma e, as in an i age-reproducin tube. pr an elect OIlima ,aS in image-s gnale enerating tube,

J nja ses fic nd iz efer r'ed embod ment of the nventi n he device of t e d s ibed compr ses. iproie'c ion 'imagler epr ci ciiig t e at lifi-f ce wh h he siil roidallon cal reflectin inner surf ce o the pro ect an im g of the s nn d s rfa e of the s re n. onto a proletio s een. w ile aschm t'fl i coaxia and can: c ntric i th sph roidal sur a e is e f ctive t rect o t e sphe a a er ation t of,

For a better understanding of the invention, og th r w th other and urther obje ts the eof. ef rence s ad to theiollow ng description ake i conn t with the accompan in a ings, w-h ts s op will bcpo nted out in the e rrin ew qt'he d aw gs Fi .1 is a view, ele at on, na t yl i se tion. o a cath de=rav ma e-translating de ice embody the inv on, wh lefFigiz, is a persncctiveviewcrth he vice of Fig; 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View. showing details of the,imagesfcrmingscre ii.

R ieri insno to F s, 1 and. 2 of the drawin i h pic iiiiaeeriica sla ine tedenvelopelo n: portion ,llla, an tensureportion b; generally-sph ml at arge iadii stthese two norla sei i end ca in form tions bei oined by a flared portion me, this la ter gportio inc ud ng an annular se ion il -d ha ing a s hero dal v-i iner-f ii ace- It is unders oedfthat the aler e U3 wilisenera ly bee own lass? ircular at s/ mageo min screen H'jis idispesedlat o e a d f the ,nvelon In and preferably at or on-the ccnler fofthc en closure Hlb. If the device is oftheimagessign the screen! I may b in the-mm onal ii electric'mosaic, whi e if the v Qijthe i asj rep du ing was; t screen x ep fe' blv'a coating offliioresccn ma e a .n eith r- .event the'scr en I 'fisnree ivormed' i/d p sit ng nli he. end

55 llb j may be only a few inchesjv The device of Figs. 1 and 2 also includes means at the other end of the envelope and within the neck Illa for developing a cathode-ray beam and scanning the screen H therewith. This means may be conventional and comprise an electron gun I2 at. the endof the neck Illa opposite the end closure lb which is effective to direct a beam of electrons, indicated by the dashed line 12a, to the screen ll, together with a scanning yoke or winding I3 surrounding the neck Ilia and effective to deflect the ray l2a in two directions normal to each other to trace a rectilinear scanning pattern on the screen II. The envelope [0 terminates in a conventional] base 14 provided with suitable connection prongs Ma for insertion in a tube socket.

The image-translating device also includes an thereby ensuring a smaller spot size, greater inannular spheroidal optical reflecting. surface,

such as a silver mirror, surrounding the neck' portion Illa and the screen H and facing the scanned surface of the screen I I. This reflecting surface maybe a mirror external to the tube and surrounding the neck Illa or, as shown, it may be formed by depositing an annular mirror film IS on the inner spheroidal surface of the section I 0d, of theenvelope. The reflecting surface I5 is effective to transmit an image to or from the scanned surface of the screen II; that is either to project a visual image formed on the scanned surface of the screen H of the device operating as an image-reproducing device onto a projection screen 16, or alternatively, the screen l6 may constitute an object being televised and an image thereof transmitted by the spherical reflecting surface [5 to the scanned surface of a mosaic screen ll. I I

It is well known that an optical spheroidal reflecting surface introduces spherical aberration into a transmitted image. To correct for. this effect, there is disposed a correcting lens in the image-transmitting path between the screen H and the screen It. In the specific embodiment shown, this correcting lens is a Schmidt or S- shaped lens I! of conventional type disposed coaxial and concentric with the spheroidal reflecting surface i5.

The operation of theimage-translating.device of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the artffrom' the foregoing description. How ever; for'completeness, its operation may be de scribed while functioning as a projection imagereproducing device. In such an arrangement, a signal-modulated cathode-ray beam projected by the electron gun I! and deflected by the scanning yoke I3 is effective to scan and activate the.v fluorescent screen II to develop thereon a visual image of the object being televised in a conventional manner. In accordance with the invention, however, rather than viewing this visual image directly from the front of the screen H, the image on the rear or scanned surface of screen I I is picked up by the spheroidal reflecting surface l5 and transmitted or projected to the viewing screen l6. At the same time, spherical aberration introduced by the spheroidal reflector [5 is eorrected by the Schmidt lens H to provide a'faithfuland accurate reproduction of the image on the viewing screen l6.

"The arrangement described has a number of advantages. In the first place, the correcting Schmidt lens II has its center placedat the center, of the spheroidal surface l5 which in practice in front of the face of the envelope l0, thus minimizing space requirements. In the second place, the image is picked tensity of the scanning beam, and a maximum contrast and definition. The Schmidt lens ll need not be a ground optical lens but may be formed of molded thermosetting plastic, for example methyl methacrylate resin, commercially available under the trade name Lucite or polyvinyl resin commercially available under the trade name Vinylite, or other equivalent transparent plastics. I

While it will be apparent that the physical dimensions of the device described will vary in accordance with particular installation requirements, one group of satisfactory essential dimensions may be as follows:

Inches Envelope 10:

' End closure l0b-- -diameter 12 Overall length 16 Screen 11-diameter 5 Image size at screen 11 3 x 4 Image size at screen 16 18 x 24 Correction lens .17diameter H 8 e In order to obtain by a conventional simple lenssystem a result comparable to that provided by the device described, the simple lens system would require a 9 inch lens 3.3 inches from the screen Hand having an f factor (ratio of focal length to diameter) of 0.37. On the other hand, the best commercially available lens for this purposeat present has an f factor of 1.5. From this,

s it maybe seen that the device described has a speed approximately four times that of the best commercial lens system available.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled. in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

' What is claimed as new is:

, 1. A cathode-ray image-translating device comprising, an evacuated envelope of insulation material having a concave and surface, a con.- ductive reflecting film deposited on said concave end surface of said envelope and adapted to function as an accelerating anode, an image-forming screen deposited on said conductive film, means for developing a cathode-ray beam and scanning said screen therewith, said beam striking the concave surface of said screen, and an annular optical reflecting surface formed on the inner surface of said envelope and facing the scanned surface of said screen and effective to transmit an image from said scanned surface of said screen.

2. A cathode-ray image-translating device comprising an evacuated envelope of transparent material including an elongated neck and an enlarged concave end closure joined by a flared intermediate portion, an image-forming screen disposed centrally on said end closure so that an annular window is formed about said screen, means for developing a cathode-ray beam and scanning said screen therewith, said screen being positioned directly on said concave end closure and presenting a concave surface to said cathoderay beam, and an annular optical reflecting surface formed on said intermediate portion and facing said screen and said window to provide a continuous light path between said screen and said window.

3, A cathode-ray image-translating device comprising an evacuated envelope of transparent insulating material including an elongated neck and an enlarged concave end closure joined by a flared portion having a spheroidal inner surface, an image-forming screen disposed centrally on said end closure so that an annular window is formed about said screen, means for developing a cathode-ray beam and scanning said screen therewith, said screen being positioned directly on said concave end closure and presenting a concave surface to said cathode-ray beam, and an annular optical reflecting surface formed on said spheroidal surface and facing said screen and said window to provide a continuous light path between said screen and said Window.

H. NEIL FRIHART. WILBUR C. JACKSON. FREDRICK B. WILLIAMS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,029,639 Schlesinger Feb. 4, 1936 2,129,015 Loewe Sept. 6, 1938 2,166,399 Dowsett et al July 18, 1939 2,185,239 Ardenne Jan. 2, 1940 2,292,979 Wald Aug. 11, 1942 2,305,855 Epstein Dec. 22, 1942 2,327,144 Stam Aug. 17, 1943 2,373,396 Hefele Apr. 10, 1945 2,440,735 Cawein May 4, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 463,891 Great Britain Apr. 8, 1937 557,771 Great Britain Dec. 3, 1943 815,094 France Apr. 5, 1937 OTHER REFERENCES The Principles of Optics, Hardy and Perrin, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., N. Y., 1932 (page 1540). Copy in Div. 7. 

